Why did my endometriosis pain get worse after taking progesterone birth control bills?

[Zahraa2019]

After I have been diagnosed with endometriosis, I have tried taking 2 different birth control bills (both of them are progesterone based and were prescribed by doctors). The first bill I took for 3 months and it did not help at all, it actually gave me weak pain from time to time which was not normal for me as I did not have such pain in such times before. However, I did not want to lose hope and I changed to the other prescribed bills. This was the worst decision I have ever made. I only took it for onr month an by the end of it the pain was so bad I had to be locked in the hospital and it lasted for 2 weeks straight and no pain killers, no bills. nothing could help relieve the pain. I could do nothing but to cry and pray the pain will go away. After this my normal endometriosis pain became so much worse and nothing and I mean nothing could help me reduce it. I cry every month from the pain laying in bed without being able to do anything. My pms pain became worse as well and no doctor want to help, they just want to put me on another birth control bill even though I told them that my pain is now worse after taking similar bills and I want to at least know why before taking the risk and start to take another one. I'm really desperate for help at this point that I wish my pain was the same as before taking the bills that's how desperate I am. If anyone have similar experience please tell me what can I do?

[Moon_maiden]

Hi so sorry you’ve experienced this.

You need to get a full blood test and include hormones, vit D, B12, magnesium and thyroid. Your dr might not like this but you need to know what is going on. Have you looked at anti inflammatory diets?

How were you diagnosed? Lap or symptoms?

Not sure what painkillers you’ve tried, I think I’ve done most and Duloxitine with occasional Oramorph is coming out top. Although not sure at this stage what’s causing the pain still.

[Chooklady]

Endometrial growth is dependent on high oestrogen so taking more is never the answer. Progesterone resistance/intolerance can also exist.

[Liv03]

sadly I don’t have an answer either but just wanted to let you know you’re not alone, progesterone increased my bleeding and pain. I’m now on zoladex, the only relief I’ve ever received.

[BloomingMarvellous]

I get more pain with progesterone. It’s a question of balance between the hormones and it can be that the oestrogen levels you have circulating are low - high oestrogen isn’t always a given even with endo. Endo tissue produces it’s own localised oestrogen as a response to the inflammation hence the notion of trying to control it with progesterone which can backfire if you are progesterone resistant and can just weirdly end up with more inflammation and therefore more pain. Oestrogen is only ONE of the things that fuels endo other metabolic processes can do so also and it maybe that your gut biome is upset by the shift in balance and ergo causing more inflammation. There is a lot of evidence that changes to the biome can fuel endo as well - increased levels of progesterone often goes hand in hand with wanting and consuming greater levels of carbs and sugar . This will shift the gut biome as well as dysregulating your blood sugars which also fuels Endo inflammation. Steering towards more veg and protein helps.

[My_Username]

Sorry you're having such a hard time.

I didn't find progesterone pills any use either and in fact think it made things a bit worse for me.

In terms of alternatives, I found Prostap3 very helpful for about 6 months, then it got less effective. I was also offered Tamoxifen (an oestrogen blocker), but never tried it.

The endo diet and supplements (pycnogenol and lycopene) helped too, although it took a month to have an effect with me.

Are you seeing a gynaecologist? They'd probably be able to prescribe more than a GP.

Hope you feel better soon

[LCVF]

Yeah I never had bad cramps at all until I went on the pill and then started developing endo. I think a lot of it has to do with estrogen ending up in the liver. That's why nothing works. Have to detox it. Supplements will start to work and then you get worse again because of the liver being clogged with estrogen. This is why exercise helps because it reduces estrogen production. recommended reading: sensiblehealth.com/MyJourne...

[RobiRize]

hi, I hope you’re feeling ok.

I had the same problem with progesterone pills only I have Endo stage 4 nothing works for me except combined pill. I tried progesterone only pill once it was horrible my pain went from 3 to 10. now eveytime they try to change my pill I refuse it.

[BloomingMarvellous]

Background and useful info for the development/research and suggestions to manage try Heal Endo book by Katie Edmonds.

[Lindle]

I don't know if you know what stage/severity your endo is but as has already been said endo creates its own oestrogen within its own cells and besides that we really don't know a lot about what other factors might influence the disease. It is well reported that the disease can progress while on medical treatment so it might be that yours is progressing so that medical treatment no longer controls symptoms. I don't know where you are with treatment other than this but I'd say you need expert scanning to see what the situation is with your endo.